Ring-joint machine



W. L. EVANS RING JOINT MACHINE Fel 1s. 192'). 1,617,623

III

Feb. 1s, 1927. 1,617,623v

w. L. EvANs v RING JOINT MACHINE Filed sept. 16, 1925 s sheets-sheet '2ff* A i L;- fw' Feb. 1519` 1617623 27 w. L.. EVANS RING JOINT MACHINEFiled sept. 16', 1925 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Feb. l5, 1927.

nire- `WILLIA1VI LEVI' IS EVANS, OF VASHINGTON, INDIANA.

1,617,623 riff-iA nine-Jouir Macallan.r

Application led September 16, 1925.' Serial No. 56322,-,

This invention relates Vto a machine for joining trim, molding orVother' material by what is known as a ringv joint. ln making this typeof joint, after lthe pieces to be joined are cut 'in the proper form,channels or grooves are cut in their rear faces vin such a manner `as toform a continuous circular A.

Vprovision of a simple and practical machine tor the purpose described,which is economical in construction andA easy to operate, and in which ahigh multiplication of power is obtained, so as to orce'the ring on withgreat pressure, thereby forming a joint which will not open'even whenthere is considerable shrinkage in the wood itself."

In the operation of this machine, the pressure is directed on both sidesof the work, and the work is first clamped and then operated upon by acontinuous progressive movement of the operating mechanism; The Vmotorforms a part of the body of the machine, and is directly connected totheoperating mechanism. The cutter is screwed directly on one end of themotor shaft, and the other end ot the shaft is connected directly to thetransmission mechanism which operates the ram. The machine has but oneactuating lever or pedal, which serves to actuate the machine in eithercutting the channel or applying the rings.

In order/to explain more fully the structural details of the inventionand the principles of its operation, reference will be made to theaccompanying drawings which villustrate one embodiment thereof.

In the drawings: Y.

7 -Figure jl is afront'elevation of the machine. l f

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 isa plan view. l

Figure 4 .is a horizontal section taken substantially on vthe line L -4of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a central vertical section :hrough the upper part of themachine, showing the position of the parts just after the channel hasbeen cut. s VFigure Gis a central vertical section taken ,atrighthangles tolthe plane of Figure 5,

showing the parts just before'the vring is forced into the channel. j f

FigureV 7 is a central vertical section through the transmissionmechanism. Y Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken'on the line 8 8 ofFigure 7. Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line9-9 ot'Figure'.y 5 y' Figurel() is a detail view of the brake operatingmechanism.

Figure 11 is a detail v iew 'of thecable ani..

choring means. 1 j The fra-me, on which the machine is supported,comprises a baseplate 1, supported on legs 2.' These legs are in pairs,vthe legs ot each pair being connected near their .lower ends-by anintegralstrut 3, and at their upper ends by a web to Ywhich thebaseplat'e '1 is suitably secured. Each leg is connected vto thecorrespondingl leg of the 4otherpair'by a) tie rod 3a. 'The base plate 1is formed with Aupstanding lugs 5 on which Va .motor 6` is supported',and a top, plate 7 -is supported bydepending lugs 8- trom the motor.`The top plate 7, the motor Gand the base plate 1 are secured together-bytie rods 9,which extend through the lugs `8 and 5 'and through/thevmotor casing, suitable spacers- 10- beingpro` 85 vided vbetween thelugs and the in the motor casing.

seats forme A work table. 11 is resilientlyusupported` j.

above the top plate 7l byY means ot-coil springs 12, `which act betweenthe uppersurltace of the top .plate and collars 13, which are adjustablysecured to Aguide pinsy 14 depending from the under-side of .the fworktable.V Vertical guide pins 15 extend'downwardly trom-the work tablevthrough, the j top plate 7, and limit the. upwardv move- .ment ottheta-ble under the'influencenot" .the springs 12.- Af gage bracket 16is adjustably-secured Aset screws 17 orzthe like tothe work table 11,and areof such size and shape as to contorni to fthe .character of thework to 4be joined, 'which isY designated .by the numeral 18. The motorshaft 19 vextends vertically above and below the motor, and a cutter 2Ois secured to its f upper end which is adaptedto cut a circularchannel21 in the work 18 when the latter is pressed downwardly intoengagement A p therewith. The work table'll is'.. provided with a Vseatfor receiving an annular. plate 22, as shown in Figure 5 which aids `insupporting the work during the cutting of the channel, and isprovidedavith an opening large `enough to Vreceive the cutter 20.

The top plate 7 is formed with anfupstanding circular flange 23, vwhichcooperates withV a depending flange-24 formedron theun- 'derside of thetable 11 to form a housing which encloses ythe cutter' 2G. Altan 25 issecured to the shaft19 below the cutter, and

is adapted to blow theishavings out-,through V Y cutter' housing',`

'@Cliscliarge passageway 26'leading from the VVBrackets -27hare securedto oppositesides of the top plate 7 and baserplate 1, and

y inithese brackets are vertically movable rods V28 which are connectedat-theirupper ends f by a cross head 29. Y vSupported centrallyV of Vthelcross head is a threaded pin 30, on the V-lowerfend otwhich is apramThe ram Ymayb'e adjusted vertically on the pinv 30,

- isn'ormally heldV in its uppermost posiandthe cross head .-29V may beadjusted vertically Vonthe rods 28,' in. order to gage the Ydepth towhich theram may' descend. *The Ation by coil-springs 32 surroimding therods 2and acting between uthe upper ends oi the brackets 27 and collars33 secured to s vtherods. These collars maybe adjusti springsee.; Y

diin ordferto Vadjust the tensionzozfthe The mechanismV for moving theram VV31 "downwardly -is driven directly from the lower end of .the'motorrshatt' 19 by means This member 36 is formedwith an upwardlyextending drum Sof speclalconstruction, which cooperates vwith the`bushing to .deiinev an annular space 58. r ,The upper partof the drum87 'has a circumferential 'groove 39, which is i connected to the space38 by a bore 40. Be-

low the gr0ove39 is another groove 41 which is connected. to the space38 by anin'clined bore 4.2.Y A cable43f is e-cured Vin the-spat B8between `the bushing 35A and` the inner wall of the drum 37, and passesthrough the bores 40and 42, respectively. VThese two portions of thecable'48 pass from the drum 37, therefore, in opposite directions, andaboutpulleys 44` and 45 respectively 1n 'brackets 27 'at opposite sidesof the machine. From the pulleys 44 and 45 the two portions of the cablepass upwardly about pulleysf46 and 47 respectively, mounted in kbrackets48,1which are secured to the respect-ive rods 28. gThe ends oi" thecable are" anchored in blocks 49 secured to-therespective-brackets 2'?near their lower ends. It wi-ll befseen', therefore,;,that when thedriven member 36 rotates, the two branches V ofthecable will be wound inthe respective grooves39 and 41, and will draw the Von the gearsA 61.

brackets 48 and rods 28 downwardly forv equal distances, and-willconsequently lower the cross head 29 and the ram 31.v

The transmission mechanism 1s helden the motor shaft by a collar 50secured to d part ofthis housing is an Vinternal ring gear 55, 'and mthe upper part of the housing collar 5() is a bushing 51 on which ismountis an internal'ring gear 56, which is similar Y tothe gear 55 buthas one'dmore tooth, and has a slightly smaller pitch diameter. rlhering gears 55 and 56 are keyed to the housing members 52 and 36respectively, by means of pins 57 or the like.V A drive 'gear 58 iskeyed to the motor shaft within the ring gear 56, and lis provided withanl ineach` floating gear60xhas integrally con,-

neet-ed therewith a gear Glwhieh ymeshes with the ring gear 55. The hub`V59l isot' such diameter that its surface is tangent toV thecircle-described by the points ot the teethV gears 61.', when at rest,are held V1n positionfby the'hub, 'and when they are revolving,centrifugal torcer tends to throw them outwardly and prevents frictionbetween t-he ends or" the teeth and the hub. Y'

As shown in the drawings, the ring gear 5 5 has sixty-four teeth, thering' gear 56 sixty-live teeth, the'drive gear .58 twentyfour teeth, andeach of the floating gears'GO and 6l twenty teeth, but itwill, ofcourse, be understood that thenumberfotl teeth may be varied inaccordance with the speed rati-o desired. v *i A It isapparent that asthe motor shaft is rotated, the floating gears will revolve aboutthesame, and for each complete revolution oi the floating gearstherewill be a diierential movement between the two ring gears 55 and 56amounting to the distance of one tooth. It the ring gear 55 and thehousing member 50 are vtree to revolve, the ring gear '56 and' themember-B-will remain stationary. lt, however, the housing member 9and'ring gear 55-,are held stationary, then the ditllerential movementwill be imparted to the member 36, and the latter slowly rotated to windup the cable. Forcontrolling this motion, the periphery of the member 52is provided with a channel 62, adapted to receive a brake band 63. Theends Vot' this brake band are provided Vwith eyes 64 slidably mounted ona pin 65, which is secured in ears 66 formed at the upper ends of therespective legs 2L In order that both pairs of legs may be made from thesame pattern, ears V66 are shown on each, but only one 'pair ofearsis-used. A cam 67 is secured at one end off' thepin65, and a sleeve68, having a cooperating cam surface, is rotatably mounted on the pinbetween the cam 67 and the adjacent end of the brake band. A'pedal 69 isconnected to the sleeve 68, and may be pushed downwardly and rearwardlyto set the brake. The cam 67 is adjustable circumferentially by means ofa pin and arcuate slot 7 O.

it is not expedient to use'spur gears for this transmission, for thereason that the number of teeth on a spur gear can not be increasedwithout increasing either the pitch diameter or the diametral pitch.Consequently, if spur gears are used, either a fractional pitch must beadopted, or one of the ring gears will not mesh properly with thefloating gears, and there will be lost motion between the same,resulting in eX- cessive noise and wear. To obviate this difficulty, Ihave used helical gears.

In order to increase the pitch diameter of a helical gear, and at thesame time retain the saine number of teeth and the same normal diametralpitch, it is only necessary to increase the angle of the teeth, andconversely, to make the gear of less pitch diameter, it is onlynecessary to decrease the angle of the teeth.

The angle of the teeth in gear 55, there- Y fore, is'made greater thanthe angle of-the teeth in gear 56, and consequently the teeth in gears6l must be made with a greater angle than the teeth in gears 60, inorder to mesh with the teeth of the respective ring gears. In ordervto'retain the same number of teeth in the gears 61 that there are inthe gears 60, therefore, the diameters of the gears 6l must he greaterthan the diameters of the gears 60, and consequently Vthe ring gear musthave a greater diameter than the gear ,56, and the hub 59 must have acorrespondingly less diameter.

.It is also obvious that since the ring gear g 56 has one more tooththan the ring gear 55,

there is only one point in the circumference where a tooth on the gear56 will be difV rectly above a corresponding tooth'on the gear ln one ofthe floating gears, theren fore, the centers of the teeth on the gearsection 6l are'in the 'same radial plane withthe 'teeth-on thecorresponding gear section 60. while on the second floating gear theteeth on the gear section 6l are circumferentially in advance of theteeth on the corresponding gear section a distance of onefrom eachother, and* willl mesh properlyr with the drive gear 58 and therespective ring gears. If more than three floating gears are used, therelative positions of the gear sections V60 and 6l will be correspond-vingly altered.

A stop lug 72l is formed onthe under side of the `base plate l, andisadapted to be engaged by a stop lug 7l formed on the upper side of thedrum 37 toV positively limitthe rotation of the latter. Assoon as thelug 7l engages the lug 72, therefore, the brake will slip, and as soonas the pedal 69 is re` leased, the action of the springsr12 and 32` willpull upwardly on the cable 4:8 and re-y store the driven member 36 toits original position, ready for the next operation. In

cutting the channel 21, the annular plate 22V is used as shown in Figure5, permitting the` work table 1l to be gradually pulled downwardly bythe action of the cables 43, after the ram 31 has engaged the work 18.The

cross head 29 and the ram 3l are soadjustedA After the channel 2l hasbeen cut,-the' i plate 22 is replaced by a plate 7 3, as shown in Figure6, which has a flange'74 project` ing downwardly, and adapted to engagevthe upper edge of the flange 28' to prevent the,

work from beingA lowered. A block 75, which is in the shape of afiiistum of a cone is then placed on the boss defined loy the inner wallof the channel 2l. The base of this block has a diameter slightly lessthan the inside diameter of the channel, and a ring 76 is placed on theblock 75 and forced into the 'channel by great pressure applied by theram 3l. The ring 76 may be of any suitable shape capable of beingexpanded sutliciently to he forced into the channel and to grip theinner wall thereof, so as to hold the joint togetherwith great pressure.

lt will be noted that a single foot lever serves to actuate the machine,either to cut the channel or to apply the ring., In cutting the channel,a continuous movement of the ram servesiirst to clamp the work, and thento move the latter slowly and continuously in the direction of thecutter. Likewise in applying the ring, a-continnous movement of the ramserves tirst to centerthe block 75 and toV clamp the -latter to thework,`

and then tof force the ring to the bottom Y of the channel; The depth ofthe channel should be suchthat when' the ring has Ybeen seated, itspressure will be exerted ina plane midway between-the surfaces of thepieces joined. By means of the gearing herein described, the speedreduction between the `v drive gear `58 and the drivenmember 36, and theconsequent multiplication of power has a ratio of approximately 236 tol. This y iatioifinay, howei'e'r, be `altered byvr an ap pidpriatealteration in the number of teeth inthe ring gears; 'A v f WVhilerIfliave shown and vdescribed the specific,construction of the mechanismwhich now appearstofbe most appropriate for the purpose'intcnded, it isYto be understood that various modifications Vmay be madein thevariousfdetails and in the arrangement oi the various paitsrwithoutanymate 1ial de-A parture ti'oin'the essential principles enibodiedtherein. ltI is my purpose, therefore",

' shaft beneath the table, a-cutter securedvto tofinclude allsuchmodifications within the scopeot' the appended claims.

' -Vhatrisclainied is:

'1.1111' a machine of the class described, the combination or a trame, atable guided for verticalV movement above the trame, a head guided.' forvertical ,movement above the table, a1 vertically disposed, power driventhegupper Yend vot the shaft, and mechanism Y driven by said shaft tovmove the head proceV Ygressively downwardly into contact withwoi'k'supported by the table, and thereby move.y the .work and the tabledownwardly to cause the work to be operated on bythe machine of theclass described, the combinatioii'ot a frame, a'table guided :tor'vertical movementabove .thertramd a head guided lit'or verticalmovement above the table, a power driven shaft having a cutter thereonbeneath tlieztable, said traine including atop plate in which the cuttershaft isgournaled, means to move the heard into;

Contact with work supported by the table andthereby movethe work and thetable downwardly to cause thework to be opw erated ori-by the cutter,telescoping flanges formed on thetable andtop plate respectively vandconstituting a housing for the' cutter, and means including a fan on thecutter shaft4 for blowing the shavings away fronr the woik.

InV a machine of the. class described, the

combination of a frame, a resiliently supported ytable guided :torvertical movementabove the frame, a resiliently supported head guidedfor vertical .movement above the"v table, fa powerdriven shaft having acutter thereon beneath the table, a drumV driven b'yhsaid shaft, a cableconnected to said drum, means associated with the cable to move the headinto Contact withA work supported byv the table when the cable iswoundabout. thedrum and thereby move` the work and the table downwardly tocause the work to be operated onvbythe cutter.` Y

hln a machine of the class described, the

combination otra traine, a motor i'nountcd vin 'the traine7 aveiticalmotor shatt extend-1 ing upwardly and downwardly from said vmotor, a cutter carried by the upper end of said shaft,1aresilientlyfsupported table :for

supportingwork above the cutter,A said tablemovement above the table,speed reduction gearing operatively connected to the lower end of theinotorshatt, a druin driven by a cable'connocted to the drinn,

said gearing and means associated with the cable to nieve -the head intocontact with work supported by the table when the cable is wound aboutthe drum andthereby inovethe forkv and table downwardly to cause thewoi'k-v to be operated; on by rthe` cutter. Y

6. ln a machine of combinationof a frame, a motor mounted in the ramdfavertical motor shaft extending upwardly and downwardly from the mot-or,acutter Vcarried by the upper end of said shaft, a resilient-lysup-ported table for supporting work above the cutter, speed reduct-heclass described,

tion gearing drivenA from the lower portion of said shaft, cooperatingstop lugs on said framev and gearing respectively to positively limitthe rotation of the latter, atvertically movable member, al head carriedthereby,: Vandineans operable by said gearing to ino-ve said member andhead downwardly to clamp the work to the' table and depress the latter,Y

said headrbeing vertically adjustable ont-he member by which it iscarried so as to'gage` Y the depth to which it will be depressed be-Yfore said stop lugs engage each other.`

`7. In a machine of the class described,therV combination of a frame, amotor inountedin the frame, a vertical motor shaft extending upwardlyand downwardly from said motor, arcutter, carried by the upper end ofsaid shaft, speed reduction gearing driven from the lower lportion octsaid shaft, a resiliently supported table for support-ing work above thecutter, a resiliently supported head guided .for vertical mo'ven'ientabove the table, a drum drivenby said gearing, a Cablecomnected to saiddrum, means associated with the cable to move the head into cont-actwith the work support-ed by the table when the'v cable is wound aboutthedrum andV thereby to move the work and the tablev downwardly to causethe work to be operated on by the cutter, and cooperating lugs onsaid'frame and drum respectively to positivelyv limit the rotation ofthe latter, said head being vertically7 adjustable on t-he member. bywhich it is carried so as to gage the depth to which it will bedepressed when said stop lugs engage each other. A

8. In a machine of the class described,

'the combination of a power driven shaft, a

work engaging member at one end thereof, a self-contained complete speedreduction gearing unit mounted on the other .end of the shaft and driventhereby, and a. work engaging member movable by said gearing toward therst work engaging member so as to engage the work from t-he oppositeside. Y

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a powerdriven sha-ft, a work engaging member at one end thereof, aself-contained complete speed reduction unit mounted on one end of theshaft and driven thereby, a drum driven by said gearing unit, a secondWork engaging member, and cables connecting the latter to' the drum soas to move said second wor-l; engaging member toward the first to clampthe work between the two members.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination o-f a powerdriven shaft, a work engaging member at one end thereof, aself-contained, friction-controlled ,com-V plete speed reduction gearingunit mounted on the other end lof the shaft and driven thereby, a secondwork engaging member movable by said gearing toward the first workengaging member, resilient means resisting said movement, andco-engaging stop lugs to positively limit the movement of said gearingand thereby limit the movementof the second work engaging member.

l1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, acutter mounted therein, a work supporting table resiliently supportedabove the cutter, a head supported above the table, means for drivingsaid cutter and at the same time moving the head downwardly into contactwith the work and thereby depressing the latter into Contact with thecutter, and means adapted to be interposed between the work and theframe -so as to positivelyprevent the work from being engaged by theCutter while the head is used for forcing on Vthe ring. Y

12. In a machineY of theclass described, the combination of `a frame, avertical shaft mounted thereon and having a cutter at its upper end, awork supporting table resiliently supported above the cutter, a headsupported above the table, means for driving the cutter shaft, meansdriven by the cutter shaft for moving the head downwardly into contactwith the work and thereby depress ing the latter into contact with thecutter, and means adapted to be interposed between the work and theframe so as to positivelyl prevent the work from being engaged by the ycutter while. the head is used for forcing on the ring.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a powerAshaft, a table mounted above the shaft, a drum journaled Von said shaft,a self-Contained complete speed reduction gearing unit mounted on theshaft and driving the drum from said shaft, a cable passing through saiddrum and Vadapted to be partially wound about the same, a ywork engagingmember sup ported above the table, and means operable by said cable tomove said member toward the table. Y Y

14. In a machine of the class described, I

the combination of a substantially vertical power shaft, a cuttersecured to the upper end thereof, a table mounted above the out# ter, adrum journaled on the lower portion of Vsaid shaft, speed reductiongearing for driving the. drum from the shaft, a cable V passing throughsaid drum and adapted to be partially wound aboutthe same, a meme bersupported above the table, and means operable by said cable to move saidmember into-engagement with work supported by the table and thereby movethe work into en-4 gagement with theV cutter.

l5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of asubstantially vertical power shaft, a cutter secured tothe upper endthereof, a table resiliently supported above the cutter, adrumfjournaled on the lower depth towhich the head will move before therotation of the drum ceases.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signay ture.

WILLIAM VLnwrs EvANs

